ESPRIT Denim 2023 Ad Campaign

Review of ESPRIT Denim 2023 Ad Campaign by Photographer Richard Phibbs with models Douglas Weiss, Emeka Obi, Erika Belle, Gabrielle McNair, Khary Simon, Kim Anh, Roya Shanks, Walt Cassidy

Esprit celebrates the creativity and spirit of real people with its new 2023 Denim campaign, captured by photographer Richard Phibbs.

Shot at the brand’s New York HQ, the setting deconstructs the classic fashion editorial, where layered canvas backdrops, scaffolding, and lighting equipment balance a grounded industrialism with an elevated artistic perspective. Among this space, the diverse cast members – each of whom are real, everyday New Yorkers – exude a spirit of expressiveness and quiet confidence.

While the “real people” casting approach is impactful, today it doesn’t really feel like anything new, so it’s a smart move for Esprit to refresh the concept while reminding us that they were the first major fashion brand to do it. The campaign pays direct homage to the brand’s “Esprit People” campaign from 1985 that was shot by famed photographic visionary Oliviero Toscani.

Revisiting an evergreen campaign concept with clarity and power, the campaign is a focused statement of Esprit’s take on lifestyle staples.